Reinforced plastic coffin



NOV- 21, 1957 c. F. slELo'FF REINFORCED PLASTIC COFFIN- 'Filed Nov. 25,1964 ,r F763 F/G.

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United States Patent O 3,353,238 REINFORCED PLASTIC COFFIN Christian F.Sielotf, P.O. Box 5003, Grosse Pointe, Mich. 48236 Filed Nov. 25, 1964,Ser. No. 413,892 3 Claims. (Cl. 27--7) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Aburial cofr'in comprising a light weight thermo plastic box and cover,with inside load carrying metal straps, spaced handles directly securedlto the load carrying straps, and a removable, wire basket like retainersupporting a decorative lining.

This invention relates to burial appliances, and has particularreference to a cotl'in, which is fabricated mainly of a plasticmaterial.

An object of the invention is to improve the construction of cons andcaskets, and to provide such a device which is relatively inexpensive tomake, has a minimum of metal parts, is lighter in weight, and isparticularly attractive in appearance.

Another object of the invention is to make a coin, or casket, which hasan exterior surface which resembles marble, and requires no paint,enamel, or other treatment, to make it ready for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coflin or casket whichhas an exterior of plastic material, and is reinforced on the insidewith metal straps, which serve as main load carrying elements, and istrimmed with novel means which are easily installed and removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterindicated, which is constructed and arranged with principal andauxiliary load carrying elements, which are connected directly to thecarrying handles.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention willIbecome more `apparent as the description proceeds, reference being madefrom time to time to the accompanying drawing, forming part of thewithin disclosure, in which drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the invention, withone of the cover elements in raised position and parts broken away toshow the relation of other parts.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the line 2--2 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of that part of the deviceshown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the clips used in attaching thetrim material to the wire frame.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will be understoodthat in the embodiment herein disclosed, the reference character 7indicates in general the body of the cofln, which is preferably moldedof a suitable plastic material, which may have an exterior, marbleized,or other type of finish, which will be attractive to the eye, and whichwil-l not require paint, enamel, or like application.

The coin 7 is provided with side walls 8 and 9, and walls 10 and 11, andtop cover members 12 and 13. The top members 12 and 13 are alsopreferably molded of plastic.

The coin 7 is also provided with a depending, decorative, flange 14, andin certain applications, I intend also ICC to round the corners, toprovide a more decorative appeai-ance.

The top closure members 12 and 13 are hinged to the side member 9, as aty15. Each hinge 15 is made in two sections, which are pinned together asat 16, as in conventional practice, -but each hinge section is formedwith lanced elements 17, which are preferably imbedded in the plasticdurin-g the molding operation. This insures the proper location of thehinge and a rigid construction, and obviates any necessity of attachingthem by screws, or the like, after the molding operation.

VPositioned on the inside of the coffin 7 are at least two longitudinalmetal straps 18, which extend along the bottom of the box 7, andupwardly along the inside faces of the end members 10 and 11. Aplurality of cross straps 19 extend across the bottom of the box 7, andupwardly along the inside faces of the side members 8 and 9. Thelongitudinal straps 1-8, and the cross straps 19, are preferably we-ldedtogether, as at 20 (FIG. 2).

The longitudinal straps 18, and the cross straps 19, constitute the mainload carrying elements of the device, and are connected to the exteriorcarrying handles 21 by means of bolts 22 (FIG. 2), which bolts 22 extendthrough the plastic walls of the coffin 7, and the straps 18 and 19, andare secured on the inside thereof by means of nuts 23.

In FIG. 2 I show the manner in which the bolts 22 extend through theside walls ofthe handles and `are secured thereto by welding, as at 24.Sleeves 25 cover the bolts 22, and serve as spacers for the handles 21.The ends of the handles 21 may be capped as at 26, for decorativepurposes.

In order to decorate the interior of the coilin 7, with a suitablefabric material, I for-m a basket like framework of wire screen 27 and27A (FIGS. 1 and 2), which is inserted in the coflin 7. The wireframework 27 and 27A may be secured to the shell of the cotlin 7 by anysuitable means, such as a rib 28 formed along the inside upper edges ofthe side and end members 8-11.

In FIG. 5 I show a type of spring clip 29, which I use on the wireframework 27 and 27A, each clip 29 having at least one 'barb 30, lancedon its outside, which barbs serve as pins for holding in position thesatin, or other material 31, which is used to decorate the interior ofthe coffin.

The cover members 12 and 13 may be similarly finished on the interior.

It is believed that the operation of the device is obvious from theforegoing description.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described the combination of a lightweight thermo plastic box, load carrying members in the for-m of metalstraps positioned within said box, handles on the exterior of said box,bolts connecting said handles to said load carrying strap members, andtubular elements on said bolts to space said handles from said box, aninner basket like framework for said box, made of extruded aluminumwire, a decorative lining material secured to said framework and a ribelement along the upper edges of the interior walls of said box forsecuring said framework to said box.

2. In a device of the character described the combination of a lightweight thermo plastic box, load carrying members in the form of metalstraps positioned within said box, handles on the exterior of said box,bolts connecting said handles to said load carrying strap members, andtubular elements on said bolts to space said handles from said box, atleast` one hinged light weight thermo plastic cover member for said box,a basket like .frame-l work on the interior of said cover and adecorative lining material secured to said framework by metal clipshaving barbs thereon for engaging said lining material.

3. In `a device of the character described the combination of a lightWeight thermo plastic box, load carrying members in the form of metalstraps positioned `within said box, handles on the exterior of said box,bolts connecting said 4handles to saidload carrying strap members,

:and tubular elements on said bolts to space said handles from said box,at least one cover member for said box,

and hinge members having lanced out elements molded in said covermembers and said box, s-aid hinge members member to said box.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GA-UDET, Primary Examiner.

being arranged for cooperation to secure the said cover 15 W E KAMM,Assistant Examiner

1. IN A DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED THE COMBINATION OF A LIGHTWEIGHT THERMO PLASTIC BOX, LOAD CARRYING MEMBERS IN THE FORM OF METALSTRAPS POSITIONED WITHIN SAID BOX, HANDLES ON THE EXTERIOR OF SAID BOX,BOLTS CONNECTING SAID HANDLES TO SAID LOAD CARRYING STRAP MEMEBERS, ANDTUBULAR ELEMENTS ON SAID BOLTS TO SPACE SAID HANDLES FROM SAID BOX, ANINNER BASKET LIKE FRAMEWORK FOR SAID BOX, MADE OF EXTRUDED ALUMINUMWIRE, A DECORATIVE LINING MATERIAL SECURED TO SAID FRAMEWORK AND A RIBELEMENT ALONG THE UPPER EDGES OF THE INTERIOR WALLS OF SAID BOX FORSECURING SAID FRAMEWORK TO SAID BOX.